Broncos & NFL

Broncos' Von Miller embracing 'brutally honest' leadership role

Broncos linebacker Von Miller watches from the sideline as time runs down in Sunday's loss to the Redskins in Landover, Md. (Joe Amon / The Denver Post)

ENGLEWOOD — Von Miller insists he relishes difficult conversations with teammates. It's an integral part of a captain's role, and it's one the Broncos' Pro Bowl linebacker takes seriously.

"I love telling people uncomfortable stuff," Miller said. "I love keeping it brutally honest. I think that's one of my best characteristics. I love keeping it brutally honest with not only my teammates but my family. I just like keeping it real. I guess it's a little sick feeling I get from that, telling people the truth."

There have been more "brutally honest" talks required of Miller in 2017 than at perhaps any previous time during his seven-year career. As he's begun to take stock of his second straight season without a playoff appearance, the Super Bowl 50 MVP said Thursday that he's not sugarcoating where his team stands heading into a vital offseason.

"If you look at the leadership we have here, not going to the playoffs two (consecutive) times is just not going to ride," Miller said. "There's going to be some drastic changes this offseason, and I'm up for it. I want to get back into the mold of being competitive and winning."

The Broncos still have a chance to end the season as the league's best defense in terms of average yards allowed per game. But Miller said that wouldn't obscure the fact that Denver's defense, the backbone of the team's championship team in 2015, must prove itself all over again.

"We didn't win this year, so you can't really call it a championship defense," he said. "We'd still be living in the past if I said were were still a championship defense. We still have a really good defense that can win championships. Yes, we do have that. We've just got to build on that. I think we will."

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Wide receivers still out

The Broncos could be thin at wide receiver Sunday for the second week in a row.

Emmanuel Sanders (ankle) and Cody Latimer (thigh) were held out of practice Thursday, the second straight session they have missed this week. Neither player made the trip to Washington with the Broncos last weekend, and both are still "really sore," coach Vance Joseph said Thursday.

The Broncos had only four active wide receivers against the Redskins — Demaryius Thomas, Bennie Fowler, Jordan Taylor and Isaiah McKenzie — and compensated with a larger volume of multiple tight-end sets. Joseph said the same four receivers would be active if Sanders and Latimer are unable to suit up Sunday.

Defensive end Zach Kerr (ankle) was also held out of practice Thursday, as was offensive tackle Elijah Wilkinson (illness). Offensive tackle Donald Stephenson (hand) and linebacker Joe Jones (Achilles) were limited participants in Thursday's workout.

Honoring Clady

The Broncos will honor former offensive tackle Ryan Clady, an All-Pro selection three times in his seven seasons with Denver, during Sunday's finale against the Chiefs.

Clady, who will serve as an honorary captain and will be recognized on the field during a break in the first quarter, started 98 regular-season games and four playoff games with the Broncos.

"He was a dominant tackle in general," said Miller, a teammate of Clady's from 2011 to 2014. "I just remember him locking up some of the best. ... I don't think he got enough credit for that."

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